Coating machine



Jan. 30, 1940. c. E. QUICK 2,188,485

COATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 30, 1940. c.E. QUICK 2,188,485

COATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, 1940. c.E. QUICK 2,188,485

COATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 30, 1940. c.E. QUICK COATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 30,1940. c. E. QUICK 2,188,485

COATING MACHINE v Filed Oct. 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 30,1940 PATENT OFFICE COATING MACHINE Claude E. Quick, Glendale, Calif.,assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Interstate Bakeries Gorporation, a corporation ofDelaware Application October 13,

5 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in coating machines especiallyadapted for coating cakes and the like, the primary object of theinvention being to provide an improved machine of the 5 characterindicated which is of simple construction, capable of economicalproduction and highly efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations 1 and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 a partial enlarged section taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 a side view, partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 a partial section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor employed in themachine;

Fig. '7 a partial section taken substantially on line ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 8 a section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8a a rear end view of the machine;

Fig. 9 an enlarged side view of an icing hopper employed in the machine;and

Fig. 10 a partial section taken substantially on line l0l0 of Fig. 9.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises asuitable frame I l which may be mounted on suitable caster wheels ll ifdesired. An endless chain conveyor [2 is arranged as shown to extendalong one side of the frame H to serve as ameans for moving articlesplaced thereon from a station at the entry end of the machine to theextreme rear end thereof. A revolving transfer table I3 is arranged atthe rear end of the machine to receive the articles moved by theconveyor I2, said revolving table l3 cooperating with a deflector ordelivery blade H to deposit said articles onto a second endless chainconveyor l5 arranged opposite the delivery end of the conveyor [2 butmoving in the opposite direction. The conveyor I5 is arranged to deliversaid articles onto a third endless chain conveyor l6 which in turndelivers said articles onto a delivery platform ll arranged adjacent theentry end of the conveyor l2 so that the same operator may both deliverarticles to be coated 1937, Serial No. 168,723

to the conveyor I2 and. remove them from the delivery platform I1 whentheir coating has been completed. The said conveyors are mounted asindicated upon the frame I I and operatively connected as shown with adriving motor l8 mounted in the lower portion of the frame II andconnected by suitable shafting and gears with said conveyors to operatethe same constantly when desired and as will be readily. understood bythose skilled in this art.

An icing hopper I9 is mounted as shown over the conveyor l5. As bestshown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the hopper l9 carries at its bottom adelivery hood 20 and a central passageway 2| is provided between saidhopper and hood so that icing may 1 freely pass from the hopper to theupper portion of the hood. A swinging valve plate 22 is mounted as shownon arms 23 pivoted at 24 on the inside of the hopper I9 and connected attheir upper ends by an operating handle 25 so that said valve 22 may bereadily manipulated when the hopper I9 is filled with icing or similarmaterial to permit of the flow thereof downwardly from said hopperthrough the opening or passageway 2| into the top of the hood 20. v

A distributing brush 26 is mounted, as shown, on a shaft 21 havingbearings in bear'mg blocks 28 and 28'. The bearing block 28 restsloosely upon a supporting block 29 and said blocks 28, 28' and 29 arearranged as shown to slide vertically on pairs of guide rods 30 atopposite sides of the frame of the machine, as best shown in Figs. 8 and9. As best shown in Fig. 8, the bearing block 28' carries a bracket 3|on which is swiveled a bevel gear 32 splined to the shaft 33 and meshingwith a driving gear 34 on the brush shaft 21. The shaft 33 is geared, asshown, to the motor l8 and is constantly rotated thereby. By thisarrangement a driving connection for the distributing brush 26 isprovided which will permit of vertical adjustments of said brushrelatively to the conveyor l5 and whereby said brush may be readilyadjusted to cakes or articles of different heights.

As best shown in Figs 7, 8 and 9, the blocks 28' and 29 have swiveledconnections with vertical threaded adjusting shafts or screws 35 mountedas best shown in Fig. 8 on opposite sides of the frame and each carryinga worm wheel 36 meshing with a worm 31 on an operating shaft 38 havingan operating hand wheel 39 at one side of the frame of the machine. Bythis means the adjusting shafts 35 may be simultaneously rotated toadjust the vertical positions of the blocks .28 and 28 and therebyadjust the vertical position of the distributing brush 26.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 9, supporting brackets 40 are arrangedon opposite sides of the icing hopper I 9, each of said bracketscarrying a vertical adjusting screw 4| operated by a knurled operatinghead 42 at its top and resting at its bottom on the corresponding block28 \or 28 and whereby the vertical position of the icing hopper l9relatively to the distributing brush 26 may be readily adjusted tocontrol the amount of the flow of icing from the hopper i9, as will bereadily understood.

A scraper blade 43 is arranged as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to extendacross the brush 24, being pivoted at 44 to the ends of the hood 20. Thescraper blade 43 carries adjusting brackets 45 controlled by adjustingscrews 48 and whereby the position of said scraper blade relatively tothe brush 26 may be adjusted as desired to control the amount of icingpassing onto the articles on the conveyor It, as will be readilyunderstood. Stripping fingers 21 are mounted on blocks 28 and 28', asbest shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 9, adjacent the forward side of the brush 2to prevent the cakes or other objects being iced from clinging to thebrush 26 and being lifted thereby from the conveyor l5. By this arrange:

ment a suitable quantity of icing will be applied to the articles on theconveyor i5 as they pass under the distributing brush 26, as will bereadily understood. A suitable drip pan 41 is arranged as shown underthe conveyor iii to catch any icing overflowing and dripping through theconveyor I5.

The iced articles are delivered by the conveyor I5 onto the conveyor l6and are thereby carried under another hopper 48 which is designed,intended and adapted to be filled with granulated nuts or the like forfurther coating or ornamenting the iced cakes. As best shown in Fig. 5,the lower end of the hopper 48 is open and occupied by a constantlyrevolving toothed delivery wheel 49 cooperating with the constantlyrevolving agitator shaft 50 carrying agitator arms or fingers 5|. Aregulating gate 52 is pivoted at 53 to cooperate with the wheel 49, toregulate the amount of particles delivered thereby, said gate 52 beingrendered adjustable by means of a bracket 54 and adjusting screw 55 aswill be readily understood. By this arrangement, a limited amount ofparticles in the hopper 48 will be constantly delivered in smallquantities and thereby sprinkled over the iced cakes passing thereunderon the conveyor it.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8a, a collecting hopper 56 ispositioned under the conveyor I6 to catch the surplus sprinkledparticles from the hopper 48 and deliver said surplus particles onto thelower reach 51 of a conveyor housing 58 extending under the hopper 56and over the hopper 48 as shown. An endless chain conveyor 59, havingconveyor buckets 6|! thereon constantly operates in the housing 51-58 toelevate the collected surplus particles and discharge them into the topof the housing 41-", as best indicated in Fig. 3. The discharge of thesurplus particles is facilitated by a trip arrangement 4! which contactswith and jars the buckets ll sufiiciently to cause complete dischargetherefrom. By this arrangement the surplus particles sprinkled over thecakes and not adhering thereto will be connected and returned to thehopper 48 for reuse.

By these means a machine is provided which is of simple construction,capable of economical modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, including means for convey ng'food articles, a rotary brush adapted to contact said articles on saidconveying means to coat the same with icing, and means for supplyingicing to said brush; and a stripper for preventing the adherence of saidcoated articles to said brush, said stripper being'positioned out of.contact with said brush and adapted to contact only such of saidarticles as. adhere to said brush.

2. The structure of claim 1, and means for adjusting said stripperrelative to said conveyor.

3. The structure of claim 1, said brush including a shaft, bearingsreceiving the ends of said shaft, means for adjusting said bearings andbrush towards and away from said conveying means, and said stripperbeing carried by said bearings.

4. In a machine of the class described, including means for conveyingfood articles, a rotary applicator adapted to contact said articles onsaid conveying means to coat the same with icing, and means forsupplying icing to said applicator; and a stripper for preventing theadherence of said coated articles to said applicator, said stripperbeing positioned out ofgcontact with said applicator and adapted tocontact only such of said articles as adhere to said applicator.

5. In a machine of the class described, including means for conveyingfood articles, a rotary applicator adapted to contact said articles onsaid conveyin means to coat the same with icing, and means for supplyingicing to said applicator; and a stripper for preventing the adherence ofsaid coated articles to said applicator, said

